Justice for the Connected — Silence for the Rest

In March 2021, Alex M. Filicetti — son of Niagara County Sheriff Michael J. Filicetti — was arrested for driving while intoxicated (DWI). Despite the serious charge, Alex was acquitted later that year. His case was handled in a non-jury trial by Wheatfield Town Court Justice Angela Stamm-Philipps. Charges were quietly dismissed in December 2021 — an outcome that most average citizens could never expect in similar circumstances.

Then came deeper institutional issues.

In March 2023, the Niagara County Forensic Laboratory — which operates under the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office — was rocked by serious accusations, as reported by WGRZ Channel 2 Buffalo. Allegations included:

• Misrepresenting information to oversight commissions
• Performing tasks without proper documentation
• Fabricating and backdating training records
• Delaying recognition of repeated procedural errors
• Accepting improperly packaged evidence
• Conducting undocumented re-analysis of casework
• Using pre-judged case evidence as proficiency tests
• General conduct unbecoming of a forensic laboratory

Despite the severity of these accusations, the story faded from public view, much like the outcome of Alex Filicetti’s DWI case.

A Pattern — Or Pressure?

The troubling stories didn’t stop there. In 2023, new allegations surfaced — this time targeting the Niagara County District Attorney’s Office.

Attorneys claimed that prosecutors failed to disclose DNA evidence that could have exonerated a man convicted of two armed robberies in Niagara Falls. That man spent more than a decade in prison, while the exculpatory evidence — DNA that conflicted with the prosecution’s case — was never provided to his defense.

The question must be asked: Are these isolated incidents? Or is there a larger pattern at play?

Is it merely a coincidence that allegations continue to mount against multiple arms of Niagara County’s justice system? Or is there some form of outside pressure being applied — perhaps as leverage by a certain entity — aimed at controlling decisions behind the scenes?

The silence from officials only deepens the mystery. And the public deserves answers.